Persian Dr.ugs

My baba worked as a laboratory tech at Chicago's gritty Cook County Hospital for over three decades after emigrating from Iran. That's the infamous hospital showcased on 'ER,' 'Chicago Hope,' and the film The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford.

The Fall television season launched this week, and as network TV fades away and gives way to the forthcoming broadband era, there's not many new series premieres of the scripted variety. And there's no shortage in the supply of doctor dramas.

If you want to really see what's up doc (see what I did there?) head over to your local hospital. I know there's a lot of folks without health insurance these days (including myself), but if you've ever been to a an E.R. you'd know the practitioners don't really resemble the folks depicted on television. Chances are your average surgeon is a person of Middle Eastern, Indian subcontinent, or Oriental (can we still say that?) heritage. That's in sharp contrast and color to the TV where pretty whiteboys are runnin' the show, like Zach Braff, Noah Wylie, and Patrick Dempsey.

It's still unheard-of to see an ethnic dude cast in the lead role in TV and Film. And I say dude because in the last couple of seasons the aforementioned shows have added ethnic females. That I attest that to a writer/producer of the show being ethnic. Therein lies the game-changer.